broody hens

[joanie]

I have a hen that is sitting on 16 eggs. Is that too many? I et her
keep the first 8 from one day, but when she got off the second day,
everyone layed in there again (all the hens like that box!!) So now I
have her in a crate with all 16 eggs so she can sit without being
bothered. The eggs are 1-3 days old. I will candle them soon, but
wondering if she can sit and hatch out 16 eggs. She is a big hen and
pretty much covers them all. What do you think? This is just for
fun, hope they hatch!

[Terry Lund]

she should be fine as long as she is covering them. upon candling you can
pull any that are not fertile.
Terry K. Lund Jr.
Prism Glassworks

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17:54:00

[joanie]

Is it reasonable to think she will hatch them all, or most of them?
Has anyone let their hens sit on eggs and hatch them? I have her in a
large dog crate with food and water and she seems happy and is always
sitting on the eggs. Is anyone out there close to Verona that is very
good at candling eggs? I am still unsure as to what I am looking at.
We have 3 in incubator with about 10 days left, 2 look good for sure,
but one is questionable?? Would love someone to come take a look with
me and explain what I am seeing.
Joan

On Jul 6, 3:29 pm, "Terry Lund" <te...@prismglassworks.com> wrote:
> she should be fine as long as she is covering them.  upon candling you  can
> pull any that are not fertile.
> Terry K. Lund Jr.
> Prism Glassworks
>
>
>
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "joanie" <sarala...@tds.net>
> To: "Mad City Chicken Chat" <Mad-City...@googlegroups.com>
> Sent: Monday, July 06, 2009 3:10 PM
> Subject: {Chicken Chat} broody hens
>
> > I have a hen that is sitting on 16 eggs.  Is that too many?  I et her
> > keep the first 8 from one day, but when she got off the second day,
> > everyone layed in there again (all the hens like that box!!)  So now I
> > have her in a crate with all 16 eggs so she can sit without being
> > bothered.  The eggs are 1-3 days old.  I will candle them soon, but
> > wondering if she can sit and hatch out 16 eggs.  She is a big hen and
> > pretty much covers them all.  What do you think?  This is just for
> > fun, hope they hatch!
>

> ---------------------------------------------------------------------------­-----

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> 17:54:00- Hide quoted text -
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> - Show quoted text -

[p...@goodearthpublications.com]

Hi Joanie,

16 eggs is probably too many. I prefer to hatch fewer eggs (7 for my
full-size hens) rather than more and loose some because of chilling.
The hen needs room to maneuver the eggs so the outer ones are rotated
to the middle, and vice versa. It's also easier to take care of and
monitor fewer eggs.

I've been doing some research and experimenting with using hens to
incubate eggs and brood chicks naturally. The reason for a broody box
is more to keep other hens out from laying eggs with the fertile ones
rather than to keep the broody hen in. Marking eggs with a pencil or
wax pencil helps you identify which eggs are which.

I've also found that the broody hens like (and deserve) a break from
the broody box. I always let them out if they are off the clutch
wanting to get out. That just about always means they need to poop
and don't want to get the nest dirty.

Around 3 to 4 in the afternoons, or before dark if I get home later,
I'll just open the door to the broody box (a medium to large pet
carrier) and let them out. They roam around, stretch, eat and take
dust baths. After about 30 minutes or so, they return to the nest on
their own. I've never not had a hen return to the clutch after a break.

If you don't let them have a break then you will need to put fresh
bedding in the nest and remove soiled bedding. It's easier just to
open the door if it is convenient for you to do so.

Hope this helps.
Pat Foreman

[saralaura tds.net]

Thanks for the info Pat.  I was wondering if she would stay in there for 21 days.  The other hens are out during the day, but when they go to roost, I could open the door and let her out.  it is good to know she will come back, I worried about that.  Where are you located at?  Could you come over and help me candle them.  Then I could take some out.

Joan

[p...@goodearthpublications.com]

Hi Joan,

Here's the chapter from City Chicks that talks about incubating. The
last half of the chapter has a section entitled: The Way of the Hen.
That might answer some of your questions. I don't know if the PDF
will go through the group filter so I'm also sending it to your email
address.

I live in Virginia so it might be hard to come over to help you
candle the eggs. I'd love to know how you do and what you think of
the chapter.

My best,
Pat